Then when he asked me to be his guide, my first instinct was to say "No Way" as I didn't think that I could walk for 50Km, let alone be responsible for someone else. But I didn't.
We talked it through and I thought that if we trained for the 3 months prior to the event on March 2nd, I'd really like to give it a try. I like long walks with friends.
Coastrek is an event run every year, for teams of 4 people. 50 Kms from Palm Beach to Balmoral, (or 100Km from Palm Beach to Coogee) along the most beautiful coastline and harbour. I am in the team, the Achilles Guides, John, Peter, Katy & me, who are guiding the Achilles Athletes, Ben, Bart, Freya & Nicole, 4 very fit, enthusiastic vision-impared young people who are all members of The Achilles Running Club, Sydney. Ben says," Well we can't see but there is nothing wrong with our legs".
We have been training together, the 2 teams, 1 guide with 1 athlete, for 12 weeks now, over the actual track and around the hills and beach at Coogee, and we are ready to go.
This Friday, 2nd March, we will leave Palm Beach at 6am, at first light. The route takes us from Palm Beach, along the sandy beach, up the rugged hillsides and over the headlands and rocky outcrops and down the other side to walk along yet another sandy beach. All those northern beaches & headlands, wading through water inlets, around the Manly headland then along the harbour foreshore & bush to Balmoral. 50 Km. There is a lot of bush-bashing and rough terrain...very tricky for the vision-impaired to secure a safe footing. The last few hours will be after nightfall. Very tricky for the guides. We think we will arrive at Balmoral at about 10pm and really hope that the massage tables are still operating by the time we arrive, footsore and weary! And hope there is a nice cold beer at the end.
I have to say, it gives me great joy to see the immense pleasure that the 4 athletes have shown at doing something we take for granted, A walk in the great outdoors. They trust our guidance and can relax, stroll and even freely jog for a bit. They don't have to be wary and take tentative steps with the assistance of the white stick. We are their eyes, telling them of upcoming steps, ditches, change of terrain, overhead branches and signposts and most times we get it right!
We have been training together, the 2 teams, 1 guide with 1 athlete, for 12 weeks now, over the actual track and around the hills and beach at Coogee, and we are ready to go.
This Friday, 2nd March, we will leave Palm Beach at 6am, at first light. The route takes us from Palm Beach, along the sandy beach, up the rugged hillsides and over the headlands and rocky outcrops and down the other side to walk along yet another sandy beach. All those northern beaches & headlands, wading through water inlets, around the Manly headland then along the harbour foreshore & bush to Balmoral. 50 Km. There is a lot of bush-bashing and rough terrain...very tricky for the vision-impaired to secure a safe footing. The last few hours will be after nightfall. Very tricky for the guides. We think we will arrive at Balmoral at about 10pm and really hope that the massage tables are still operating by the time we arrive, footsore and weary! And hope there is a nice cold beer at the end.
I have to say, it gives me great joy to see the immense pleasure that the 4 athletes have shown at doing something we take for granted, A walk in the great outdoors. They trust our guidance and can relax, stroll and even freely jog for a bit. They don't have to be wary and take tentative steps with the assistance of the white stick. We are their eyes, telling them of upcoming steps, ditches, change of terrain, overhead branches and signposts and most times we get it right!
See Team Achilles training on this You-Tube clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubx28bjAB7s
Coastrek aims to raise $1,000,000 for The Fred Hollows Foundation... to aid the vision impaired.
Check out this address if you would like to sponsor our teams..
Achilles Guides. http://my.artezpacific.com/TeamPage.aspx?teamID=49720&langPref=en-CA&Referrer=direct%2fnone
Achilles Athletes . http://my.artezpacific.com/TeamPage.aspx?teamID=49666&langPref=en-CA
Or go to http://www.coastrek.com.au/ and click on the "SPONSOR NOW" button and search for either of our teams.
The Achilles GuidesTeam will have a GPS tracker attached to John's backpack, so we can't escape!.. We can be followed on this web address on Friday.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0HEfEW0gEka7bXkjByzZ4fe417BO4MbWG
We are hoping for a cool, calm day with a gentle sea breeze.
Would love you to send messages of support and sponsor us.
Di
Coastrek aims to raise $1,000,000 for The Fred Hollows Foundation... to aid the vision impaired.
Check out this address if you would like to sponsor our teams..
Achilles Guides. http://my.artezpacific.com/TeamPage.aspx?teamID=49720&langPref=en-CA&Referrer=direct%2fnone
Achilles Athletes . http://my.artezpacific.com/TeamPage.aspx?teamID=49666&langPref=en-CA
Or go to http://www.coastrek.com.au/ and click on the "SPONSOR NOW" button and search for either of our teams.
The Achilles GuidesTeam will have a GPS tracker attached to John's backpack, so we can't escape!.. We can be followed on this web address on Friday.
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0HEfEW0gEka7bXkjByzZ4fe417BO4MbWG
We are hoping for a cool, calm day with a gentle sea breeze.
Would love you to send messages of support and sponsor us.
Di
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